Fretboard Brewing Company

What Fretboard Brewing Company does

Fretboard Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2017 and headquartered in Blue Ash, Ohio (Greater Cincinnati), operating four taproom locations across the Cincinnati metro area. Its core product is a portfolio of award-winning craft beers — including six year-round offerings (Vlad International-Style Pilsner, Reba Strawberry Blonde Ale, Fretboard Light Premium Lager, Peso in My Hand Mexican Lager, Improv West Coast IPA, and Orange Super Crush Hazy IPA) plus seasonal and rotational releases (Centerfield, Rockin' the Rhein, Drummer Boy, Dunkel No. 9, Peach Pickin' Time). The brewery combines production with a live-music venue concept ("drink local. rock local."), in-house smoked BBQ and smash-burger kitchens at Blue Ash and Harrison, and two private event spaces (The Record Room and The Overflow). Distribution runs through direct-to-consumer taproom sales, canned/bottled wholesale into Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky retailers (located via the Fretboard Beer Finder), and a partner-operated Public House Hamilton run by Looking Glass Hospitality Group.

The business model is multi-stream and consumer-direct: taproom beer pours, retail wholesale (15- and 24-pack SKUs), in-house food (BBQ, burgers, salads), private event rentals, merchandise, and a dual loyalty architecture (Cincy Brau Stein Society mug club plus Fretboard Brewing Rewards via the Toast Now app). Go-to-market centers on community-driven live music programming (weekly acoustic series, Trivia with Quizmaster Stephanie, SINGO!), band booking partnerships, and a Stein Society membership that bundles branded merch, beer discounts, and guided brewery tours. Customer segments are predominantly adult craft beer enthusiasts and live music audiences in Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky, supplemented by private event hosts (corporate meetings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays of 30–100+ guests). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; loyalty enrollment is free via the Toast Now app with points-based redemption for merch and food.

Leadership disclosed is limited — Lisa Boh is identified as CMO — and the company appears independently owned with no parent company, venture backing, or institutional investment signals in the public material. The Hamilton location is operated by a third-party hospitality partner (Looking Glass Hospitality Group), and the Norwood taproom is co-located within The Gatherall upscale food market at Factory 52, indicating an asset-light expansion posture.

Name

Fretboard Brewing Company

Legal name

Fretboard Brewing Co.

Website

https://fretboardbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fretboard Brewing Company is a privately held Cincinnati-area craft brewery operating four Ohio taprooms (Blue Ash HQ, Norwood, Harrison, Public House Hamilton) with award-winning year-round, seasonal, and rotational beers, in-house BBQ kitchens, live music programming, private events, and retail distribution across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Taproom operations
• Craft beer distribution
• Live music venue
• Private event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: Direct sales of craft beers across four taproom locations in Ohio. Features award-winning lagers, IPAs, and seasonal offerings. Also offers in-house smoked BBQ and pub food at select locations.
2. Retail Beer Sales: Canned and bottled beer distribution in retail markets across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky. Available in 15 and 24 packs for select products.
3. Food & Kitchen Operations: In-house kitchen operations at Blue Ash (smoked BBQ) and Harrison (BBQ, gourmet smash burgers, loaded fries, salads). Public House Hamilton operated by Looking Glass Hospitality Group serves upscale American pub fare.
4. Private Events: Private event bookings at dedicated spaces including The Record Room (up to 30+ guests with AV capabilities) and The Overflow (up to 100 guests). Revenue from event bookings and catering.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Fretboard merchandise including apparel. Stein Society members receive 20% off all Fretboard merch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fretboard Brewing Company is a craft brewery that manufactures and sells its own lagers, IPAs, and seasonal beers through four taproom locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and through retail distribution in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky. Offerings are paired with on-site live music, in-house BBQ/food service at select taprooms, private event venue rentals, and a loyalty/membership program.

Product overview

Fretboard Brewing Company is a craft brewery operating four taproom locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area (Blue Ash, Norwood, Harrison, and Hamilton). The company's core product portfolio includes six year-round beers (Vlad Pilsner, Reba Strawberry Blonde Ale, Fretboard Light Lager, Peso in My Hand Mexican Lager, Improv IPA, and Orange Super Crush Hazy IPA), seasonal offerings (Centerfield Hazy IPA, Rockin' the Rhein Oktoberfest Lager, Drummer Boy Winter Warmer), and rotational special releases (Dunkel No. 9, Peach Pickin' Time). Supporting services include the Cincy Brau Stein Society membership program, Fretboard Brewing Rewards loyalty program via Toast Tab, private event venue rental, and a Beer Finder retail locator tool. The brewery positions itself at the intersection of craft brewing and live music venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cincy Brau Stein Society: Reformatted mug club membership program including Fretboard mug, Cincy Brau t-shirt, $1 off beers, 20% off merch, guided brewery tour and tasting, monthly newsletter

Products and services

• Vlad Pilsner International-Style Pilsner; medium-body European style lager at 5.3% ALC/VOL and 17 IBUs. A year-round flagship core beer sold on tap and in cans at all Fretboard taprooms and retail partners.
• Reba Strawberry Blonde Ale Strawberry Blonde Ale — a light, cream-style ale infused with strawberry; 5.3% ALC/VOL, 10 IBUs. A year-round core Fretboard brew served at the taprooms and in retail cans.
• Fretboard Light Premium Lager Select Premium Light Lager — a lower-calorie year-round light lager (4% ALC/VOL, 99 calories, 4.5 carbs), available in 15- and 24-pack cans in retail distribution.
• Peso in My Hand Mexican Lager Mexican Lager brewed with generous amounts of corn — 5.3% ALC/VOL, 12 IBUs; bronze medal winner at the 2020 Cervecera Del Pacifico. A year-round core Fretboard lager sold on tap and in cans.
• Improv West Coast IPA Flagship West Coast Style IPA brewed with aggressive hop character including Citra, Mosaic, and Idaho 7 for pine, floral, and grapefruit aroma. 7.1% ALC/VOL with 69 IBUs; year-round core beer.
• Orange Super Crush Hazy IPA Extra Juicy Hazy IPA brewed with orange peel, dolcita, and Citra hops — 6.7% ALC/VOL with 23 IBUs. A year-round core hazy IPA.
• Centerfield Hazy IPA Seasonal Hazy IPA sold during the February through August window each year at Fretboard taprooms and retail.
• Rockin' the Rhein Oktoberfest Lager Oktoberfest-style seasonal lager brewed for the August through September window; 5.5% ALC/VOL with 10 IBUs.
• Drummer Boy Winter Warmer Seasonal Winter Warmer released in the November through December window; higher-ABV 8.0% ALC/VOL with 28 IBUs.
• Dunkel No. 9 München Style Lager München-style dark lager — a rotational/limited release brew at 5.2% ALC/VOL with 17 IBUs.
• Peach Pickin' Time Peaches and Cream Style Ale Rotational Peaches and Cream Style Ale released starting each June at Fretboard taprooms and retail.
• Cincy Brau Stein Society Membership Paid mug-club / membership program for craft beer enthusiasts, offering a Fretboard mug, Cincy Brau t-shirt, $1 off beers with the mug, 20% off all Fretboard merchandise, guided brewery tour and tasting, and a monthly insider newsletter.
• Fretboard Brewing Rewards Free-to-join loyalty program delivered via the Toast Now mobile app; members earn points for each visit and redeem those points for free Fretboard merchandise and food.
• Private Events Venue Rental Private event services for corporate meetings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, and happy hours, centered on two on-site venues — The Record Room (AV-equipped, up to 30+ guests) and The Overflow (semi-private taproom area for up to 100 guests). Bookings are coordinated via a dedicated events team ([email protected], 513-914-HOPS).
• Fretboard Beer Finder Online retail-locator service that lets consumers find Fretboard beer at retailers near them across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vlad Pilsner - multiple awards received
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Looking Glass Hospitality GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLooking Glass Hospitality Group owns and operates Public House Hamilton location at 103 Main St, Hamilton, Ohio. This is a franchise/licensed operation where Looking Glass serves Fretboard craft beers on tap alongside their own cocktails and upscale pub food menu. The partnership extends Fretboard's reach into downtown Hamilton with a unique urban experience across three levels including rooftop patio.
• The Gatherall (Factory 52)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gatherall is an upscale food market at Factory 52 described as a city within a city. Fretboard's Norwood taproom is set within this market alongside 10+ other eateries. The partnership provides foot traffic and cross-promotional opportunities within the mixed-use development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Established East Coast craft brewery with a broad year-round and seasonal lineup including IPAs, lagers, and pilsners. Comparable on product mix and brand-led positioning, but at significantly greater scale and national distribution.
• The Boston Beer Company: National craft brewer (Sam Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea) with broad retail distribution and a wide lager/IPA portfolio. Comparable on product overlap (lager, IPA, seasonal) and retail distribution, but operates at much larger scale as a national incumbent.

Direct peers

• Rhinegeist Brewery: Cincinnati-based craft brewery operating a large taproom and producing year-round and seasonal beers (IPAs, lagers, pilsners). Directly comparable to Fretboard on geography, product mix (lager/IPA-led portfolio), and taproom-centric distribution model.
• 50 West Brewing Company: Cincinnati-area craft brewery with multiple taproom locations and a full food menu (burgers, BBQ). Closely mirrors Fretboard's taproom-plus-kitchen model in the same regional market.
• Taft's Brewing Company: Cincinnati craft brewery combining brewing, food, and event space in a single large venue. Comparable to Fretboard's integration of brewery, kitchen, and private events under one roof.
• Braxton Brewing Company: Covington, KY craft brewery with multiple taproom locations and a strong event/community programming orientation. Directly comparable on Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky geography and multi-location taproom strategy.
• MadTree Brewing Co. Cincinnati craft brewery with a taproom, retail distribution, and an event-driven programming model. Highly comparable to Fretboard on regional footprint, multi-channel GTM (taproom + retail cans), and experiential positioning around community events.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Brewing Company: Cleveland-based regional craft brewery with a taproom, restaurant, and broad retail distribution across the Midwest. Comparable portfolio breadth and taproom-plus-food model, but at a larger regional scale than Fretboard.
• Country Boy Brewing: Lexington, KY craft brewery with multiple taproom locations and an event-driven programming approach. Comparable on multi-taproom strategy and event-led differentiation, but serving a different regional market.
• Sun King Brewing Company: Indianapolis-based craft brewery with a multi-location taproom footprint and year-round plus seasonal lineup covering lagers, IPAs, and seasonal beers. Comparable product mix and taproom-driven model, but operating in a different Midwest geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fretboardbrewco
• Facebookfacebook.com/fretboardbrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fretboardbrewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fretboard Brewing Company